I read residents are paying $90 for a capacitor, I just thought of a friend
that just paid $4.36 (made in China) for an A/C Capacitor.

I realize that $4.36 was "cost" and $12.00 is wholesale, and $28.00 is MSRP ...but $90.00? seems like residence are rich (or were before paying so much) around here,,,

Seems like

The markups are so so high, I think, I will take an A/C class...one self repair
will pay for the course (or YOU TUBE)!!!! 

but $90.00?

And that was for a part that was under warranty!

The so-called "darling of KU" tried to bill me $175.00 for a $20 part that was still under warranty (not including $250 in labor) by calling it a "processing fee".

$425.00 total ...

I almost bit, but when I asked what the "processing fee" was, they told me that it was their travel cost to get the part.

Needless to say, I didn't bite and contacted an authorized dealer and they replaced the part at no cost to me and only charged me $50 in labor.

Always, always, always get a second opinion. 

The so-called "darling of KU"


And who would that be? 

And who would that be?

Do you really have to ask? 

Do you really have to ask?


I do.

tried to bill me $175.00 for a $20 part that was still under warranty (not including $250 in labor) by calling it a "processing fee".

$425.00 total ...

This is not something my company would ever do, nor would we ever or have we ever referred to anything as a "processing fee."


So surely it is not my outfit you speak of. 

I think I smell a troll. Don't bite defcon 

I think I smell a troll. Don't bite defcon


I already know it. 

When they put our new capacitor on my DH watched the guy do it. It is extremely simple. We are going to purchase a spare and do it ourselves next time. DH is super handy though, so this will be easy for him. Not recommended if you are unfamiliar with electricity. 

I absolutely love when I get a bad capacitor on a call. I wish they could all be that easy! 

As all of you know, I am a licensed a/c contractor.

While a capacitor is extremely easy to replace, it's not always the easiest failure to diagnose. It's easy if you have a multimeter and you know how to use it to diagnose the problem.

But....and this is a big but....you will be dealing with 220 volts of electricity and if done incorrectly, that little diagnosis and simple repair could easily kill you.

That's right...I said kill you.

So, I'll leave the debate over the cost of the part and the profit margins up to the homeowners on here to debate. I certainly think that prices for any consumer item is worthy of that kind of debate.

But remember, you are also paying for professional diagnosis and installation and the peace of mind that comes with having a professional do the work and save you from yourself. 

Tinman's right!! Ours went out a few weeks back. Dh is very handy and has all the right tools ( multimeter ) so it was an easy and inexpensive fix. BUT you really HAVE to know what you're doing around electricity. 

I hate gougers. 

Then you must never eat out or go shopping SagaciousSighFiGurl.

I have no problem paying for someone to do what needs to be done and I realize they have to charge what they charge so they can stay in business.

If a business doesn't make a profit why would they do it? 

Are you saying businesses need to gouge in order to make a profit, Perfection? 

I'm a "DIY" kinda' person for a lot of things ... but I know my limits and electricity is NOT something I would ever mess with. 

Then you must never eat out or go shopping SagaciousSighFiGurl. I have no problem paying for someone to do what needs to be done and I realize they have to charge what they charge so they can stay in business.If a business doesn't make a profit why would they do it?


Perfection this life is NOT black and white. Stability, moderation and some wisdom often live in the grey areas.

Of course it's about profit. Gouging is the extreme of THAT. People who do that are just purely greedy IMO and make the world a worse place. I have a business too, and I never do that. I also have a tendency to give people a break, not charge in for the kill b/c they are in some state of desperation or need.. I have no killer instinct in me. Yay, me. I'm proud of that. 

While a capacitor is extremely easy to replace, it's not always the easiest failure to diagnose. It's easy if you have a multimeter and you know how to use it to diagnose the problem.


I'll testify to that.......back a couple of years ago my A/C stopped......I called out KW Air Conditioning and they came out....it worked again, but then it seems everytime it got all heated up (the capacitor) it would quit. I had to go home sit and wait for the A/C to cut off and not come back on.......then call them........they came right out and changed the capacitor. Has worked ever since.

On another note.....price is always controlled by the laws of supply and demand. demand for A/C around here is close to necessity, so supply or repair there of is costly. And parts from China are parts from China. That's my 2 cents worth. 

EDUCATION is the KEY to all these comments... LEARN and LEARN some more...

You Tube EXAMPLE...
(but remember the
PROS on here will say..you have to have
some basic's and 5,000 HRS more training
and EXPERIENCE)

http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=u5crdrc8jPE 

As much as I disagree with defcon aka mxmike ... My arch nemesis .... His company is legit and have helped a few of my friends and charged reasonably and do a good job so someone is just fishing for business by slander 

right- as I said before, there's never been a negative comment on here about them- that's quite a feat for KU- 

As much as I disagree with defcon aka mxmike ... My arch nemesis .... His company is legit


lawl, you're alright with me. I've grown up somewhat and tend to get along with folks better now lol.

But I do appreciate the kind words...we do what we're supposed to do, nothing less.